Introduction
Cannabis use during adolescence is associated with a wide range of psychosocial, academic, and health-related consequences. Because adolescents may underrecognize or minimize these problems, therefore structured screening tools play a critical role in early identification and intervention. Consequently, the Adolescent Cannabis Problems Questionnaire (CPQ-A) was developed to provide a reliable and validated measure of cannabis-related problems in youth aged 12 to 18 years. Moreover, Greg Martin, John Copeland, Sharon Gilmour, Peter Gates, and Wayne Swift developed this instrument and published it in Addictive Behaviors in 2006; it has also accumulated more than 85 citations on Google Scholar, further supporting its relevance in the field. As a result, the CPQ-A is widely used in clinical screening, treatment planning, and adolescent substance-use research, and it continues to serve as a key tool in this domain.
This article outlines the CPQ-A’s structure, scoring, applications, and limitations, thereby offering clinicians and researchers a clear framework for effective use.
Key Features of the CPQ-A
Purpose and Use
The CPQ-A is designed to screen for cannabis-related problems among adolescents rather than to establish a formal diagnosis. Specifically, it evaluates the negative consequences of cannabis use across psychological, social, academic, and health-related domains, thereby providing a broad overview of functional impairment. Moreover, the CPQ-A targets several sub-domains, including family-related problems (as a subset of psychosocial functioning), social and relationship problems, and health-related problems. In addition, these domains allow clinicians and researchers to capture multiple areas of adolescent functioning that cannabis use may affect. Because of its brevity and dichotomous scoring, the CPQ-A is especially suitable for school-based programs, outpatient clinics, and youth-focused research settings, and therefore it offers a practical tool for large-scale or repeated assessments.
Target Population
The CPQ-A is specifically validated for adolescents aged 12–18 years who use cannabis. It is appropriate for:
Adolescents (13–17 years)Youth in clinical, school, or community settingsAdolescents at risk for substance-related problemsImportantly, the CPQ-A is not validated for adults or younger children and should therefore not be used outside the adolescent age range.
Structure
The CPQ-A consists of 12 core items, with expanded coverage across multiple functional domains related to cannabis use. Moreover, the questionnaire assesses problems in the following areas:
1. Cannabis-Related Problems
The focus on direct negative consequences of cannabis use consists of 19 items, such as:
• Arguments or conflicts with family or friends related to cannabis
• Problems fulfilling responsibilities at school or work
• Legal or disciplinary issues related to cannabis use
• Mood changes, irritability, or emotional distress after use
2. Academic and Occupational Function
This domain evaluates the impact of cannabis use on performance and daily responsibilities and includes approximately 6–8 items (as a subset of the total), such as:
• Missing school or skipping classes
• Decline in grades or work performance
• Difficulty completing tasks or assignments
• Decreased motivation for academic or work-related goals
3. Social and Relationship Function
This section examines the effects of cannabis use on relationships and social interactions and includes approximately 5–7 items (as a subset of the total), such as:
• Reduced participation in social activities
• Conflicts with peers or family
• Problems maintaining friendships or romantic relationships
4. Psychological and Health-Related Problems
This domain assesses the emotional and mental health impact of cannabis use and includes approximately 5–6 items (as a subset of the total), such as:
• Anxiety or depression linked to cannabis use
• Mood swings, irritability, or stress
• Concerns about the long-term effects of cannabis
• Coping mechanisms and emotional resilience
5. Health and Psychological Problems
6. Social and Relationship Problems
7. Academic and Occupational Problems
8. Physical Dependence
9. Criminal Activity
This multidomain structure ensures a comprehensive yet focused assessment of cannabis-related harm.
Scoring Method
Scoring the CPQ-A is intentionally simple and transparent. Each item is scored as Yes (1) or No (0), and accordingly, total scores are calculated by summing all affirmative responses, which yields a possible range from 0 to 27. The minimum score is 0, which indicates no reported cannabis-related problems, whereas the maximum score is 27, which reflects multiple or severe cannabis-related problems. As a result, higher scores indicate greater severity of cannabis-related problems. Although the instrument does not include formal diagnostic cut-off scores, higher total scores are nonetheless associated with increased frequency of cannabis use and show alignment with DSM-IV cannabis dependence criteria.
Administration Format
The CPQ-A typically takes 5–10 minutes to complete, making it feasible for routine screening. It can be administered through:
Paper-based questionnairesDigital or online formatsIn-person interviewsIts self-administered design supports use in busy clinical environments and large-scale screening programs. Because scoring is straightforward, the CPQ-A requires no specialized training to administer or interpret.
Applications of the CPQ-A
The CPQ-A supports a range of clinical and preventive functions:
Screening: Identifies adolescents experiencing negative consequences from cannabis use.Monitoring: Tracks changes in problem severity over time or following intervention.Treatment Planning: Guides referral decisions, counseling intensity, or family-based interventions.For example, elevated scores in academic or social domains may prompt school-based support, while higher psychological impact scores may indicate the need for mental health referral.
Languages and availability
The CPQ-A is available in multiple languages, enhancing its international applicability, including:
EnglishArabicMandarin ChineseRussianGermanMoreover, Portuguese, Hindi, and Turkish are also available. The questionnaire is free for clinical and research use and distributed under an open-access model.
Reliability and Validity
The CPQ-A demonstrates strong psychometric properties: High internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.88). Validated against cannabis use frequency and DSM-IV dependence criteria. Supported by multiple validation studies, including:
Original study: linkTurkish validation: LinkDevelopment of a short cannabis problems questionnaire (CPQ-A-S) — Proudfoot et al. (2010): LinkScreening of cannabis-related problems among youth: The CPQ-A-S and CAST Questionnaires: LinkOverall, evidence supports the CPQ-A as a reliable and valid screening instrument for adolescent cannabis-related problems.
Limitations and Considerations
Despite its strengths, the CPQ-A has several limitations:
Self-report Measure: Responses may be influenced by recall bias or social desirability.Length: Some adolescents may find the questionnaire relatively long.Social Desirability Bias: Youth may underreport cannabis-related problems.Age Restrictions: Validated only for adolescents aged 12–18.Population Specificity: Applicable only to adolescents who use cannabis.These considerations should be accounted for when interpreting results.
Other Versions And Related Questionnaires
Several complementary tools may be used alongside the CPQ-A:
CPQ-Adult (Cannabis Problems Questionnaire – Adult version) – adult-focused version of CPQ-A for assessing cannabis-related problems.CPQ (Adult Version) Turkish version CPQ-AASSIST – (Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test) – A WHO-developed tool for screening multiple substances, including cannabis.CAST – (Cannabis Abuse Screening Test) – brief questionnaire for identifying problematic cannabis use in adolescents and adultsDAST-10 (Drug Abuse Screening Test – short form) – evaluates drug-related problems in adolescents and adults.Using multiple tools can provide a broader picture of adolescent substance use risk.
Additional Resources
Original study: linkAccess The CPQ-A (pdf)For inquiries and more information, please try to contact Greg Martin via email: martin@unsw.edu.au or NDARC email: ndarc@unsw.edu.auFrequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who can use the CPQ-A?Clinicians, counselors, and researchers use the CPQ-A for adolescents aged 12–18 who use cannabis.
How long does it take to complete the CPQ-A?Approximately 5–10 minutes.
How is the CPQ-A administered?Via paper, digital platforms, or in-person interviews.
Is there any cost to using the CPQ-A?The CPQ-A is free for clinical and research use. Contact Greg Martin email: g.martin@unsw.edu.au
A Word From ResRef about the CPQ-A
The CPQ-A provides a reliable and validated screening tool for identifying cannabis-related problems in adolescents, and consequently, it facilitates early detection of substance-related harm in this population. By capturing psychosocial, academic, and health-related consequences, it further enables clinicians and researchers to obtain a multidimensional profile of functional impairment associated with cannabis use. As a result, it supports early intervention and, in addition, contributes to more informed clinical decision-making in both screening and treatment planning contexts.
References
Martin, G., Copeland, J., Gilmour, S., Gates, P., & Swift, W. (2006). The Adolescent Cannabis Problems Questionnaire (CPQ-A): Psychometric properties. Addictive Behaviors, 31(12), 2238–2248. linkEvren, C., Yilmaz Cengel, H., Bozkurt, M., Evren, B., Umut, G., & Agachanli, R. (2017). Psychometric Properties of the Turkish Versions of the Cannabis Use Problems Identification Test (CUPIT) and the Adult Cannabis Problems Questionnaire (CPQ). Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 49(1), 83–89. linkProudfoot, H., Vogl, L., Swift, W., Martin, G., & Copeland, J. (2010). Development of a short cannabis problems questionnaire for adolescents in the community. Addictive behaviors, 35(7), 734–737. linkFernández-Artamendi, S., Fernández-Hermida, J.R., Muñiz-Fernández, J. et al.Screening of cannabis-related problems among youth: the CPQ-A-S and CAST questionnaires. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy 7, 13 (2012). link